The Centre Thursday told the Supreme Court that it was in the process of framing guidelines for keeping foreign nationals in detention centres across the country.
The government told a bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta that the process would take around three months.
"We are of the view that three months is too long," the bench said, adding "this matter requires some urgency. We expect the detention manual to be prepared within two months."